Electric switch



Get. 16 1923.

E. L. CONNELL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Abril 20. 1922 Ewe/M m- Eda/m Z. fizz/11211 to effect a break and make of the contact at Patented @ct. l6, 1923.

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EDWII\T,L. CONNELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIG'NOR TO THE VAN DORN ELECTRIC TOOL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND,

ELECTRIC Application filed April 20,

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. CoNNnLL, a citizen of the United States of America residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches of the type which is adapted either throw of the switching member, and has for its object the effective control of two distinct circuits with instant breaks of each circuit by the provision of quick-acting, spring-controlled apparatus.

My invention may be advantageously explained in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a plunger-actuated switch governing two sets of make and break contacts, which are adapted to control two individual electric circuits.

In the apparatus herein shown as embodying my invention there is provided a knee-joint connection with the actuating lever, which is disposed closely adjacent to the pivotal mounting of the lever and is adapted to effect substantially an instantaneous movement of the lever and its associated parts when the jointed member is forced past the center under the tension of the controlling spring.

The features of this improvement may be further explained and the advantages of operation pointed out by making reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus shown partly in section and with the top removed, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus partly broken away and shown in full at the left.

The same character of reference is employed for indicating identical parts wherever shown in these drawings.

The switching device proper is shown at the extreme left of the two figures of the drawings, respectively in plan and side views; being of the plunger type with two sets of opposing contacts a, a. and b, b, which in practice may be connected for the control of independent circuits, as desired.

A plunger a carrying an insulating cross head 0 mounting paired sets of contacts a! and b", is actuated by means of the OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SWITCH.

1922. Serial N0. 555,786.

links d pivotally connected at c" with the upper ends of the paired pivoted actuating levers e. These actuating levers are connected near their pivotal mounting with the paired overthrow members f, and a coil spring 9 is connected and tensioned-between the pivotal mounting of the levers e and the upper end of members f, thus forming the active actuating means for the knee-joint mechanism shown.

Members f are bent toward each other and are united by the cross pin f with the angularly bent end it. of the plunger rod h. This plunger rod has a coiled spring i which is tensioned normally to force the rod and connected parts toward the right of the appliance; said angular end 72. being pivoted at h" to move with the rod. A controlling lever j is connected with the plunger rod h by means of a link j, and when this controlling lever is actuated upon its pivot intothe dotted line position it is evident that the plunger rod will be forced to the left, thereby compressing the spring c' and actuating the knee-joint mechanism and connected switch parts. p

The operation of said knee-joint mechanism is accomplished with greater speed and certainty than with any switching appliance of the prior art with which I am acquainted. The actuation is effected immediately after the overthrow members f have been forced to the left past the line of their pivotal connection near the pivotal mounting of the actuating levers e, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the tensioned spring 9 is acting between the pin f and the pivotal mounting e, so that, the kneejoint being reversed in position, the actuating levers will he suddenly forced to the right and the plunger 0 will snap contacts a" out of engagement with the springs a, a, and almost instantaneously break the circuit and establish circuit between contacts I) and springs b, b.

It will be apparent that the movement of these contacts is attained with the added rapidity insured by the action of the overthrow members against the actuating levers close to their pivotal mounting 6, so that an exceedingly quick break is insured irrespective of the speed with which the trigger or controlling lever j is depressed into the dotted line position. When this trigger is manually released from its extreme position within the casing slotted at to receive said trigger, spring 71 immediately acts to retract the plunger rod it toward the ri ht and the knee-joint mechanism once more eing reversed in position, will cause the switch parts to disengage the contacts I), I) almost instantaneously, and reengage contacts a, a,.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 claim herein for tensioning and suddenly releasing the spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric switch of the class described, the combination with paired stationary contacts, of a travelling contact-making member adapted to electrically close with said paired contacts, and a knee-joint actuating mechanism connected with said member, comprising a pivoted actuating lever,

an overthrow member pivoted upon said actuating lever near its pivotal mounting, a spring connecting the extremities of said parts in tensioned relation, and a controlling part associated with said overthrow member, adapted to force it into alternative positions of reaction upon the actuating lever from the opposite sides of and near its pivotal mounting, substantially tort 3. In an electric switch of the class ole scribed, the combination with opposing paired electrical contacts, of a travelling contact-making member adapted alternatively to close with said paired sets of contacts, and a knee-joint actuating mecha nism connected to effect the travel of said member, comprising a pivoted actuating lever connected adjacent to its outer end with the contact-making member, an overthrow member pivo ted upon said actuating lever near its pivotal mounting, a'spring connecting the outer extremities of sai parts in tensioned relation, a plunger controlling the overthrow member and a spring associated with the plunger and normally adapted to hold it in its retracted position, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric switch of the class described, the combination with paired stationary contacts, of a travelling contactmaking member adapted to electrically close with said paired contacts, and a knee-joint actuating mechanism or toggle movement connected with said member, comprising a pivoted actuating lever connected with said member at a distance from its pivotal mounting, an overthrow member connected with said actuating lever in position to react thereon from opposite sides, and a spring interposed between the respective pivotal mountings of said parts, adapted to efiect the sudden actuation of the lever and its connected contact-making member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof ll do now aflix my signature.

EDWIN L, C(DNNEM,

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